A SCHOOL chef was gunned down in the street as he visited a friend on Friday night.

Carlos Eduardo Cegove Moreno, 23, arrived at Holmes Court in Fletcher Road, Acton, at around 9pm when the unknown gunman opened fire.

Paramedics and an air ambulance raced to the scene but Carlos, who only moved to London from Sao Paulo two years ago, died in the street.

A post-mortem on Saturday showed Carlos died from a bullet wound. His family was due to fly to the UK this week.

Talking to Brazilian media, Carlos's mother Elizabet Moreno told how she had spoken to her son from Brazil hours before his murder.

She said: "He said it was all good and he was very happy. Before disconnecting he told me he was going to search for a friend to go to a party.

"That was the last time we spoke to Carlos. Neither the police nor we know what really occurred - it is a mystery and a tragedy for our family.

"I have confidence that the criminal will be imprisoned and pay for what he did."

She said Carlos had recently introduced his family to his new Irish girlfriend and was intending to go to college.

Carlos was the first of six people who were either shot or stabbed over the weekend in London.

Tributes have been left at the scene of the killing. A lamppost outside the flat Carlos was visiting has been adorned with flowers, photographs and a Brazilian flag in Carlos's memory.

Officers from the Specialist Crime Directorate, led by Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Mortimer, are investigating the shooting.

Police are keeping an open mind on the motive and are appealing for anyone with any information to telephone the incident room at Belgravia Police Station on 020 7321 7228 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.